Definition of "sitosterol" []

• Any of a group of sterols that occur in high concentrations in certain plants, such as yams, and are used in the synthesis of steroid hormones. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "For example, a series of natural hormone-like compounds have been isolated from suma, namely sitosterol, stigmasterol, and beta-ecdysterone."
• "It may reduce cholesterol by interfering with intestinal cholesterol uptake and has powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, especially when taken in combination with vitamin E. 14: Beta-sitosterol, found in some new margarines, is a plant sterol that may block absorption of cholesterol. 15: Pantethine is formed in your body from panacid, a B vitamin."
• "For the manufacture of most current contraceptive drugs, however, the preferred starting material is sitosterol from soybean oil extraction wastes."